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Research referenced by UC-affiliated Nobel laureates points to GLP-1 medications, widely known for diabetes and weight-loss treatment, showing effects on biological aging indicators. The findings come from work highlighted by University of California researchers discussing discoveries made within the UC system.
A new Priceline report finds that Americans taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are driving new expectations for hotels, including in-room refrigerators to store medication and menus with higher protein content. The report frames this as part of a broader shift in travel preferences tied to the growing use of weight-loss and diabetes drugs.
Eli Lilly presented early clinical data last month on brenipatide, a tirzepatide-related compound, for alcohol use disorder. Kariya Pharmaceuticals separately reported early results for KP405, a similar GLP-1 compound, in Parkinson's disease, while Baseline Therapeutics said it plans to begin a clinical trial of a GLP-1 compound for alcohol use disorder in early 2027.
New data from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly indicates that GLP-1 medications, the class that includes Ozempic, may slow biological aging as measured by molecular aging clocks. These clocks track chemical changes in cells believed to correlate with the pace of aging.
MIT Technology Review's newsletter highlights two stories: one on the difficulty AI systems face in reliably refusing dangerous requests, such as help with pathogens or weapons, and another summarizing emerging research into side effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, including possible links to hair loss, nail disorders and eye nerve damage. The AI piece notes that restricting dangerous capabilities also risks limiting useful applications like cancer research, while giving governments power to set their own boundaries on speech.
GLP-1 agonist drugs, approved for diabetes, kidney disease and obesity, are being used by a growing share of Americans, with a recent Gallup poll finding 11% currently take one for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024. Beyond common gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis and gallstones, researchers and lawsuits are examining rarer possible effects including eye nerve damage, plus emerging questions about hair and nail changes.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk report that patients on their GLP-1 drugs show slower biological aging according to molecular 'aging clocks' measuring DNA changes and protein levels. Separately, MIT Technology Review named Energy Dome among its 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch for 2026, citing its system that stores renewable energy using compressed carbon dioxide rather than underground caverns.
Novo Nordisk tested blood from over 10,000 trial participants using proteomic clocks and found signs that its weight-loss drug slowed biological aging, including up to a 4-year shift in a clock measuring heart protein age. Eli Lilly ran a smaller study on tirzepatide using epigenetic clocks that track DNA changes, and also found molecular aging appeared to slow in patients taking the drug compared to placebo.
In an interview, Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner said weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are not damaging the company's candy business, and in some cases benefit it. He also described how Hershey now uses artificial intelligence to direct its sales force in real time at retailers like Target and Walmart, as part of efforts to keep the brand culturally relevant.
McDonald's is developing new menu options including grilled chicken, wraps and egg bites, alongside smaller portion sizes. The company points to roughly 30 million Americans now using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as a factor shaping demand for its food offerings.
McDonald's announced an $8.5 billion investment at its investor day, extending its 'Next' growth plan unveiled in June, aiming to save individual restaurants up to $100,000 a year in cash flow. Executives acknowledged that a rapid pace of recent menu launches had slowed service and hurt customer satisfaction, and the company is now targeting the $30 billion chicken category and menu options for GLP-1 drug users, whose households still frequent McDonald's 84% of the time. Despite the announcement, McDonald's stock fell 4.4% the same day.
Researchers report that while most people on GLP-1 obesity drugs lose about a quarter of their body weight, 10-15% see minimal or no weight loss, according to endocrinologist Daniel Drucker of the University of Toronto. The Endocrine Society has called understanding this variation a research priority, citing early findings that biological sex, genetics and behavioral factors may all play a role, with women consistently losing more weight than men in trials and real-world data.